The role of bronchial artery revascularization in lung transplantation

Long-term survival of lung-transplant patients is 53% at 5 years and 31% at 10 years, lagging behind the survival of other solid organs recipients. Modern lung transplantation has seen a shift from early mortality and complications related to the bronchial anastomosis to late mortality secondary to progressive organ dysfunction; the complex disease process may include elements of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, obliterative bronchiolitis, chronic rejection, or chronic lung allograft dysfunction. Initial goals of bronchial artery revascularization include reducing the incidence of airway ischemia and improving bronchial healing. Benefits of restored bronchial artery circulation may extend beyond bronchial healing alone.